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"But Analay says we're going to resonate," Anna says simply

"We'll see about that," I huff, straightening I don't like the thought of anyone deciding anything for irls in advance Analay's a sweet boy, but I want therows up and decides she wants to hook up with Esha or Sessah or wants to travel the mountains alone, I will support whatever she wants to do She doesn't have to be tied down to anything She certainly doesn't have to be tied down to resonance at the age of seven I pat irls' father when he gets back fro stories," I say "After all, this baby irls"

"It's a boy," Anna says sio see Analay and his ? And the new baby?"

I really like Ariana There's not a mean bone in her body and she adores the children She's so patient with them as she teaches, too But I'm in a cranky mood and there's no way I can sit in her hut and socialize and not snap at her for Analay's insistence that Anna's his future o visit Asha and Hemalo, shall we?"

Both girls groan "But Shema's such a baby," Elsa co the way "She doesn't play right"

"That's because she is a baby," I remind them "She's full sa-khui, like her e differently than you guys Be nice to her" Shema is about three turns of the seasons old, but she's very h Shema adores them and tries to copy theood scraps"

That excites them, and we leave the hut and head into the heart of our se I move slow, because my feet are swollen and my sandals make it difficult to walk I keepe is a little quiet thisIt's cold out, but clear, and thatmeat from the nearest caches I'one already When the weather gets warain, but for now, it's just too cold

I wave to people as I walk, the girls bounding ahead of y that it feels unfair I'nancy, Iaround me I don't, really I'nant ht, everything's swollen, and everyone's too loud Yup, that sounds about right

Kate and Sue leather satchels strapped to their backs They beaood today, Nora," Summer says "Your cheeks are so rosy and fresh! I love it What are you using on your face? Is it fish oil? Or fat? Because Sevvah says she uses fish oil on hers when it gets dry but I don't want to smell like ice planet trout What do you think?"

Kate's mouth just twitches as Summer rambles She loo She must be six feet easily, with broad shoulders and a sturdy build She wouldn't feel as if the baby in her belly was a boulder, and her boobs wouldn't feel like waterely envious of her

I slideit "It's a pot of soave h It siven out ontheir booted feet across a patch of ice and giggling "Girls, what does Moht?"

"Daddy," calls Elsa "You smell like Daddy"

Kate snickers

I rubtoI use, or come by later and you can have some of mine," I promise her I really just want to sit down My lower back feels tight and terrible "Or all of it"

"Are you sure?" Summer asks "I can—"

Kate touches her ar her, and I want to kiss her Summer is a nervous talker And a happy talker And okay, just a talker And nor how her mind works because there's not a bit of pretentiousness in her and she's as open as she is chatty—but not today "Did you and the girls want to join us?" Kate asks "We're off to collect dirtbeak nests for fuel"